Summary
Japan plans to deploy long-range missiles on Kyushu to bolster defenses against China and North Korea amid concerns over U.S. security commitments under Trump.
The missiles, with a 1,000km range, will be stationed at two existing bases but not on Okinawa to avoid provoking China.
Experts argue this move strengthens Japan’s security and alliance with the U.S. However, uncertainty over Trump’s stance on defense treaties has raised concerns.
Some analysts suggest Japan may reconsider its pacifist policies and even debate acquiring nuclear weapons.
To be perfectly honest, I clocked the “this ship has sailed” moment for nuclear non-proliferation to be when the non-Russian signatories of the Budapest Memorandum did nothing in 2014, and (considering the context) fell very far short of providing “robust security guarantees” to Ukraine in the face of the 2022 invasion and open phase of the war.
What would “robust security guarantees” look like, you ask? Take over Ukrainian IADS. Just plug it into the NATO air defense network. Ukrainians can do what they want, but we’d backstop their air defense, and plink every single modern Russian jet and chopper out the sky. Make them bust out Yak-9 museum pieces or some shit.